Seat-forming assembly and a chair having the same

ABSTRACT

A chair includes a frame having a coupling member, and a seat-forming assembly. The seat-forming assembly includes first and second plate members, a linking member and a hook unit. The first and second plate members serve respectively as a seat and a backrest of the chair, and each have a connecting portion and a hook-mounting portion opposite to each other. The linking member links the connecting portions of the first and second plate members together. The hook unit includes a plurality of first hooks connected to the hook-mounting portion of the first plate member, and a plurality of second hooks connected to the hook-mounting portion of the second plate member. The first and second hooks are capable of detachably engaging the coupling member.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a chair, more particularly to a seat-formingassembly of a chair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of chairs exist nowadays. Among them, a lounge chair issuitable for outdoor use, and usually includes a foldable frame and aseat-and-backrest assembly serving as a seat and a backrest of thelounge chair. There are many types of conventional seat-and-backrestassemblies, all of which are fixedly mounted on the respective foldableframes.

However, if only one of the seat and the backrest is damaged, it cannotbe individually replaced and the entire chair has to be discarded,resulting in waste. In addition, since the seat-and-backrest assemblyand the frame of a conventional lounge chair are predetermined insteadof being customized based on different user needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide aseat-forming assembly and a chair having the same that can eliminate theaforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aseat-forming assembly adapted to be mounted on a frame of a chair. Theseat-forming assembly includes first and second plate members, a linkingmember and a hook unit. The first and second plate members are adaptedto serve respectively as a seat and a backrest of the chair. Each of thefirst and second plate members has a connecting portion and ahook-mounting portion that is opposite to the connecting portion. Thelinking member links the connecting portions of the first and secondplate members together. The hook unit includes a plurality a pluralityof first hooks connected to the hook-mounting portion of the first platemember, and a plurality of second hooks connected to the hook-mount ingportion of the second plate member. The first and second hooks areadapted for detachably engaging the frame of the chair.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda chair including a frame and the abovementioned seat-forming assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of a chairaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a seat-forming assembly of thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the first embodimenttaken along line V-V in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the chairaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numeralsthroughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the first embodiment of a chair according tothe present invention includes a frame 1 and a seat-forming assembly 2.The frame 1 includes a substantially U-shaped first leg frame 11, asubstantially U-shaped second leg frame 12 connected pivotably to thefirst leg frame 11, two extension rods 13, two positioning members 14(only one is shown in FIG. 3) and a coupling member 15. The extensionrods 13 are spaced apart from each other and mounted telescopically on atop portion of the first leg frame 11. The positioning members 14 aredisposed for respectively positioning the extension rods 13 relative tothe first leg frame 11. The coupling member 15 is mounted between thesecond leg frame 12 and the extension rods 13 in an inclined manner suchthat a front end of the coupling member 15 is lower than a rear end ofthe coupling member 15.

In this embodiment, the coupling member 15 is a looped circular rod. Thecoupling member 15 has a curved first coupling portion 151 at the frontend thereof, and a curved second coupling portion 152 at the rear endthereof opposite to the first coupling portion 151. The shape of thecoupling member 15 is not limited hereto, as long as the first andsecond coupling portions 151, 152 are provided. The first and secondcoupling portions 151, 152 are not necessarily integrally formed intoone piece.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the seat-forming assembly 2 is detachablymounted to the frame 1, and includes first and second plate members 21,21′ that respectively serve as a seat and a backrest of the chair, alinking member 22 and a hook unit 23. Each of the first and second platemember 21, 21′ includes a border frame 211 and a support net 212. Theborder frame 211 has a connecting portion 213 and a hook-mountingportion 214 that is opposite to the connecting portion 213. The supportnet 212 is connected to and disposed within the border frame 211. Theconnecting portion 213 of each of the first and second plate members 21,21′ is formed with a plurality of spaced-apart through holes 215. Thehook-mounting portion 214 of each of the first and second plate members21, 21′ is proximate to the respective first and second coupling portion151, 152, and has a curvature that substantially equals that of therespective first and second coupling portion 151, 152. The linkingmember 22 links the connecting portions 213 of the first and secondplate members 21, 21′ together. In this embodiment, the linking member22 is a rope extending through the through holes 215. The configurationof the linking member 22 may vary in other embodiments of thisinvention.

In this embodiment, the hook unit 23 includes a plurality of first hooks230 integrally formed with the hook-mounting portion 214 of the firstplate member 21, and a plurality of second hooks 230′ integrally formedwith the hook-mounting portion 214 of the second plate member 21′. Thefirst and second hooks are capable of detachably engaging the couplingmember 15 of the frame 1. Each of the first and second hooks 230, 230′of the hook unit 23 has a hook body 232 that defines a groove 231 and anopening 233 communicating the groove 231. The groove 231 of each of thefirst hooks 230 receives removably the first coupling portion 151 of thecoupling member 15 of the frame 1. The groove 231 of each of the secondhooks 230′ receives removably the second coupling portion 152 of thecoupling member 15. The opening 233 of each of the first and secondhooks 230, 230′ has a width smaller than a diameter of the correspondingfirst and second coupling portion 151, 152. In this embodiment, thefirst hooks 230 are integrally formed with the first plate member 21 asone piece, and the second hooks 230′ are integrally formed with thesecond plate member 21′ as one piece. In other embodiments of thisinvention, the first and second hooks 230, 230′ may be independentlyformed and then connected to the hook-mounting portions 214 of thecorresponding first and second plate members 21, 21′ by fasteners.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, during manufacture of the firstembodiment, the first and second leg frames 11, 12, the extension rods13, the positioning members 14 and the coupling member 15 are assembledtogether to form the frame 1 of the chair. Then, the first and secondplate members 21, 21′ are connected together via the linking member 22.Finally, the first hooks 230 are engaged with the first coupling portion151 of the coupling member 15 of the frame 1, and the second hooks 230′are engaged with the second coupling portion 152 of the coupling member15 of the frame 1, such that the seat-forming assembly 2 and the frame 1are assembled together.

The seat-forming assembly 2 can be easily detached from the frame 1 bydisengaging the first and second hooks 230, 230′ from the correspondingfirst and second coupling portions 151, 152.

Referring to FIG. 6, the second embodiment of the chair according to thepresent invention is similar to the first embodiment. The differencebetween the second embodiment and the first embodiment resides in theconfiguration of the frame 1. In the second embodiment, the first legframe 11 is mounted pivotably on the front portion of the couplingmember 15, and the second leg frame 12 is mounted pivotably on the rearportion of the coupling member 15. The first and second leg frames 11,12 are not directly connected to each other. In other words, the sameseat-forming assembly 2 can be mounted on frames 1 having differentstructures, as long as each frame 1 includes the coupling member 15having the first and second coupling portions 151, 152.

In sum, due to the provision of the hook unit 23, from the user'sperspective, the seat-forming assembly 2 can be easily mounted to anddismounted from the frame 1, so that replacement of the seat-formingassembly 2 and the frame 1 can be easily performed. In addition,replacement of the first and second plate members 21, 21′ of theseat-forming assembly 2 can also be easily realized since the two areseparately formed and then linked removably together. From themanufacturer's perspective, a variety of frames 1 and a variety ofseat-forming assemblies 2 can be provided, so the user can purchasedifferent frames 1 and different seat-forming assemblies 2, and thenfreely combine them into different chairs. This configuration increasesthe flexibility of satisfying the users' different needs, and allowsconsumers to easily replace the parts of the chair.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatare considered the most practical embodiments, it is understood thatthis invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but isintended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chair comprising: a frame including a couplingmember; and a seat-forming assembly including first and second platemembers that serve respectively as a seat and a backrest of said chair,each of said first and second plate members having a connecting portionand a hook-mounting portion that is opposite to said connecting portion,a linking member that links said connecting portions of said first andsecond plate members together, and a hook unit that includes a pluralityof first hooks connected to said hook-mounting portion of said firstplate member, and a plurality of second hooks connected to saidhook-mounting portion of said second plate member, said first and secondhooks being capable of detachably engaging said coupling member of saidframe.
 2. The chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling memberhas curved first and second coupling portions opposite to each other,said hook-mounting portion of each of said first and second platemembers being proximate to a respective one of said first and secondcoupling portions, and having a curvature that substantially equals thatof the respective one of said first and second coupling portions.
 3. Thechair as claimed in claim 2, wherein said connecting portion of each ofsaid first and second plate members is formed with a plurality ofspaced-apart through holes, and said linking member is a rope extendingthrough said through holes.
 4. The chair as claimed in claim 3, whereineach of said first and second hooks of said hook unit has a hook bodythat defines a groove receiving removably a corresponding one of saidfirst and second coupling portions of said coupling member of saidframe, and an opening communicating said groove and having a widthsmaller than a diameter of the corresponding one of said first andsecond coupling portions of said coupling member.
 5. The chair asclaimed in claim 4, wherein said frame further includes a first legframe, a second leg frame connected pivotably to said first leg frame,two extension rods spaced apart from each other and mountedtelescopically on a top portion of said first leg frame, and twopositioning members for respectively positioning said extension rodsrelative to said first leg frame; said coupling member being mountedbetween said second leg frame and said extension rods in an inclinedmanner; each of said first and second plate members including a borderframe that has said connecting portion and said hook-mounting portion,and a support net that is connected to and disposed within said borderframe.
 6. The chair as claimed in claim 4, wherein said frame furtherincludes a first leg frame mounted pivotably on a front portion of saidcoupling member, and a second leg frame mounted pivotably on a rearportion of said coupling member; said coupling member being mountedbetween said first leg frame and said second leg frame in an inclinedmanner; each of said first and second plate members including a borderframe that has said connecting portion and said hook-mounting portion,and a support net that is connected to and disposed within said borderframe.
 7. A seat-forming assembly adapted to be mounted on a frame of achair, said seat-forming assembly comprising: first and second platemembers adapted to serve respectively as a seat and a backrest of thechair, each of said first and second plate members having a connectingportion and a hook-mounting portion that is opposite to said connectingportion; a linking member linking said connecting portions of said firstand second plate members together; and a hook unit including a pluralityof first hooks connected to said hook-mounting portion of said firstplate member, and a plurality of second hooks connected to saidhook-mounting portion of said second plate member, said first and secondhooks being adapted for detachably engaging the frame of the chair. 8.The seat-forming assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of saidfirst and second plate members includes a border frame having saidconnecting portion and said hook-mounting portion, and a support netconnected to and disposed within said border frame.
 9. The seat-formingassembly as claimed in claim 8, said connecting portion of each of saidfirst and second plate members is formed with a plurality ofspaced-apart through holes, and said linking member is a rope extendingthrough said through holes.
 10. The seat-forming assembly as claimed inclaim 9, the frame of the chair including a coupling member that hasfirst and second coupling portions, wherein: each of said first andsecond hooks of said hook unit has a hook body that defines a grooveadapted for receiving removably a corresponding one of the first andsecond coupling portions of the coupling member of the frame, and anopening communicating said groove and having a width that is smallerthan a diameter of the corresponding one of the first and secondcoupling portions of the coupling member.